Rail fastening



Oct. 1, 1946.- GREEN RAIL FASTENING Filed Oct. 21, 1943 INVENTOR.

155 5. GREEN Patented Oct. 1, 1 946 UNITED STAT Es P ENT]lorr es ItAIL FASTENING 7 Lee B. Green, LakewoocL Ohio Application October 21, 1943, SerialNo. 507,117

'7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to fastenings or anchors for railway rails andaims to provide novel means for this purpose which is very simple, economical and efficient;

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved fastening of this character by which a rail can be secured to a tie or other support and effectively held against longitudinal creeping.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved rail fastening involving the use of a curved spike or clamp which can be very economically manufactured and readily applied to a rail-supporting plate for securing the rail in proper position and preventing longitudinal creeping thereof. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rail fastening involving the use of a tie'plate having a portion overhanging the edge,

of a tie and a curved spike or clamp cooperating in a novel mannerwith such overhanging portion of the tie plate.

The present invention also provides a novel form of tie plate and a novel form of rail spike or clamp. 1

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview showing a rail fastening constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the rail and tie plate to further illustrate my improved fastening. g p I I Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rail fastening shown in Fig. 1. g

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another rail fastening constructed according to my invention and embodying my novel tie plate and rail clamp and Fig. 5 is a plan view showing how the noveltie plate of Fig. 4 can be economically produced from plate stock. V

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. land 3 I show a rail I supported on a plate I I and clampingly secured thereto by means of one or more of my novel spikes or clamps I2. The rail III is of a conventional form having a head I3 and a base flange I4. In the form of the invention here illustrated, the plate II is atie plate and is shown resting on the upper face I of a wood cross-tie I6. The tie plate II is secured to the tie I6 by cut spikes I1 and I8 driven into the tie through suitable openings IIa and I8a provided in the plate. The spikes I! also engage the rail flange I4 along opposite edges thereof. Y

The tie plate II, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is a substantially fiat metal plate having one or more upstanding transverse ribs or shoulders I9 for cooperation with the flange I4 for gaging or locating the rail. A desired number of the openings Ho and 18a for the cut spikes I1 and I8 are provided in the plate at suitably located points. When the ribs I9 are provided on the tie plate the opening I8a may extend therethrough as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The openings IIa and I8a are preferably somewhat larger in size than the stems of the spikes II and IB so that the tie plate can have limited lateral movements. The spikes I1 and I8 usually also permit a limited vertical movement of the tie plate II as trains pass over the rail III; 7

As shown in the drawing, the tie plate I I has a laterally projecting portion 2I at one side thereof which overhangs the side facer22 of the tie I6. This overhanging portion of the tie platehas one or more pairs of spaced openings 23 and 24 therein in which the clamps or spikes I2 are located for clampingly holding the rail III to the tie plate II. The tie plate shown in Figs. 1 and 3 has a pair of these openings on each side of the rail I0 and one of the clamps I2 is located in each such pair of openings. However, if desired, the tie plate can be provided with only one such pair of openings as in the case of the tie plate 25 shown in Fig. 4, in which event only one of the clamps I2 is used.

' The opening 23 is located in the tie plate II so as to lieadjacent the edge of the rail flange I4 and the opening 24 is spaced from the opening 23 in a direction transversely of the rail, that is.

longitudinally of the tie plate. Both of the openings 23 and 24 are so located in the overhanging portion 2| of thetie plate so that when the clamp or spike I2 is driven or installed in such openings it will lie immediately adjacent the side face 22 of the tie I6 as shown in the drawing. In this position the member I2 serves as an anti-creeper as well as a rail clamp and effectively prevents longitudinal creeping of the rail I0.

The fastener I2, which is herein referred to as a spike or clamp, comprises a curved stem 26 having fastening or holding elements 2'! and 28 at opposite ends thereof. The fastening element 21 is here shown as a head which may be of a shape similar tothat provided on conventional cut spikes, thatis to say, it projects laterally in offset relation to the stem 26 and is adapted to engage the rail flange I4 in overlying relation thereto. The stem 26 comprises a relatively short substantially straight portion 26a depending from 3 the head 21 and which may be of a quadrangular cross-sectional shape and a curved or bowed portion 26b. The curved stem portion 28b is tapered or relatively reduced in thickness and provides the clamp with a substantially flat reversely curved tail portion. The holding element 28 provided n the end of the curved stem portion 26b is in the form of a hook adapted for anchoring engagement with the tie plate I I when the curved stem portion is sprung upwardly into the opening 24 of the tie plate as hereinafter explained. At a point adjacent the junction of the straight stem portion 26a with the curved stem portion 26b -I provide the clamp with a lateral projection or shoulder 29 which engages the under surface of the tie plate H and forms a fulcrum upon which the spike rocks when being driven or installed in the tie plate.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the clamp l2 in full lines in its installed or driven position and have also shown the same clamp in construction lines in its partially driven position. In such partially driven position, I have shown the clamp [2 after its curved stem portion or tail section 2% has been passed downwardly through the opening 2.3 of the tie plate and just prior to the engagement of the lateral shoulder 29 beneath the tie plate i 5. By means of a suitable tool (not shown) the curved stern portion or tail section 26b is lifted o-r sprung upwardly toward the tie plate so as to move the holding element or hook 28 through the opening 24. As the hook 28 moves upwardly through the opening 2 3 the resiliency of the clamp will cause the hook to snap to its full line position in which it cooperates with the tie plate in anchoring the outer end of the clamp 12 thereto. Such upward movement and springing of the curved stem portion 281) causes the clamp to rock or fulcrum on the shoulder 29 thereby swinging the head 27 laterally and downwardly to its full line position in overlying clamping engagement with the rail flange I .4 as shown in fulllines in the drawing, The curved stem portion b of the clamp i2 is resilient in character, as above indicated, and when the clamp has been driven or installed as above explained the head 27 will exert a strong but somewhat yielding clamping force on the rail and will securely hold the rail to the tie plate H so as to retain the rail in proper position thereon and effectively prevent longitudinal.

creeping of the rail.

From Fig. 2 of the drawing it will be readily seen that the curved stem portion 26b of the clamp i2 is relatively long as compared with the straight stem portion 25a and that the leverage will accordingly be such that when the curved stem portion has been sprung to its anchored position, the clamping force exerted by the head 27 on the rail flange M will be very great. Any tendency for the rail to creep longitudinally will be resisted by the clamping action of the member l2 and its engagement With the side face of the tie it and, if some creeping of the rail dces occur, it will cause the clamp [2 to be tilted or cooked and this will increase its rippin elTeot on the rail and enable the clamp to further resist the tendency to creep. The resiliency of the clamp l2 also enables it to function as a resilient rail clamp which will permit a controlled rise and fall of the rail during the passage of trains there? over, without a destructive pounding of the tieplate on the tie.

The tie plate 25 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is similar to the tie plate ll except that its portion 31 which overhangs the side face 32 of the ti 33 extends only part way along one side of such plate and has only one pair of the openings 23 and 24 for the spike or clamp l2. Fig. 4 shows a rail fastening embodying this modified form of tie plate and from this view it will be seen that the tie plate and clamp I 2 are used in a similar manner and serve a similar purpose to that explained above for the tie plate II and the clamps l2 employed therewith.

Fig. 5 shows how two tie plat/es having the plan shape of the plate illustrated in Fig, 4 can be cut from plate stock 35 so as to substantially eliminate waste. It will be noted that the tie plate 25 has a wide end 25a and a relatively narrower end 252) and that its straight edge portions 35 and 31 alon one side thereof extend toward each other for a portion only of the length of the tie plate and have their adjacent ends connected by the relatively inclined edge portion 38. When the straight edge portions 36 and 31 are made f substantially equal lengths, as shown in the drawing, two of the tie plates 25 can be out from a single piece of plate stock 35 as indicated in Fig. 5 and the two resulting tie plates will be of substantially identical shape.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawin it will now be readily understood that I have provided an improved rail fastening or anchorin means by which a rail can be securely and resiliently clamped in proper position on a rail-supporting plate and will be effectively held against longitudinal creeping. It will be seen also that I have provided a novel form of tie plate usable in my improved rail fastening and which can be cut from plate stock substantially without waste. Likewise it will be seen that I have provided a novel form of rail clamp or spike which can be very economically manufactured and can be easily installed or driven in forming my improved rail fastening.

While I have illustrated and described my improved rail fastening and the features and elements thereof in more or less detail it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be correspondingly limited but regard my invention as including all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Havin thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In combination with a flanged rail and a rail supporting plate having a pair of Openings spaced transversely to the direction or the rail and both located on the same side of the rail flange, a. rail fastener having a bowed resilient portion lying below the plate and extending away from the rail and ends extending upwardly into said openings, one of said ends having means thereon for anchoring the same in one of said openings and the other end having a holding portion thereon engaging the flange of the rail in overlying relation thereto, said fastener also having a shoulder thereon spaced from said other end so as to engage under said plate.

2. In a rail fastening, a flanged rail, a plate supporting said rail and having an opening adjacent the rail flange, and a fastener connecting said rail and plate, said fastener having a head engaging said flange and a substantially straight stem portion extending down through said opening with a shoulder thereon engaging under said plate and a reduced stem portion curving laterally outwardly in a direction away from the rail below the plate and having its end anchored on said plate, said outwardly curving reduced stem portion being resilient for holding the fastener in place with its head pressed against said rail flange.

3. In a rail fastening, a flanged rail, a. plate supporting said rail and having an opening adjacent the rail flange and a second opening spaced from the first opening in a direction away from the rail, and a fastener connecting said rail and plate, said fastener having a head engaging said flange and a substantially straight stemportion extending down through the first opening with a shoulder thereon engaging under said plate and a relatively reduced resilient stem portion curving away from the rail below the plate, the end of said reduced portion having a hook thereon engaging in said second opening.

4. In combination, a tie, a flanged rail, a tie plate seated on said tie and having a laterally extending portion overhanging the edge of the tie and provided with a pair of openingsspaced apart in a direction transverse to the rail and both lying on the same side of the latter, means connecting the tie plate with the tie, and means for clamping the rail to the tie plate and preventing longitudinal creeping of the rail comprising a member having a head engaging the rail flange and a stem extending down through the opening which is nearest the rail, said stem having a portion which curves laterally away from the rail and upwardly toward the tie plate and which is provided at itsfree end with fastening means adapted to be retained in the other of said openings, said curved stem portion being of relatively reduced size and being resilient so as to press said head against the rail flange when said fastening means is retained in said other open- 1 ing.

- the tie and provided with a pair of openings spaced apart in a direction transverse to the rail, means connecting the tie plate with the tie, and means for clamping the rail to the tie plate cornprising a member having a head engaging the rail flange and a stem extending down through one of said openings, said stem having a shoulder engaging under the tie plate and a portion curving' away from the rail alongside said tie and provided with means for anchoring its outer end in the other of said openings.

6. In combination, a tie, a flanged rail, a tie plate having a portion overhanging the edge of the tie and provided with a pair of openings spaced apart in a direction transverse to the rail, means connecting the tie plate with the tie, and means for clamping the rail to the tie plate comprising a member having a head engaging the rail flange and a stem extending down through one of said openings, said stem having a shoulder engaging under the tie plate and a relatively reduced resilient portion curving away from the rail alongside said tie, said curving portion having a hook thereon and being sprung toward the tie plate to engage said hook in said second open- '7. A rail fastener, comprising a clamp having a head and a stem, said stem having a substantially straight portion adjacent said head and a resilient relatively reduced reversely curved tail a portion formed as a continuation of said straight stem portion and having 'a hook element at the end thereof, and a shoulder on the stem adjacent the junction of said straight and curved portions.

LEE B. GREEN. 

